LOCAL MOTORSPORTS: More drivers enter Grandview's Freedom 76

Four top performers in dirt track modified stock car racing have added their names to the list of entries for the 43rd Annual BPG Racing Freedom 76 Modified Classic at Grandview Speedway Saturday, Sept. 14.

Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney and Ryan Godown - all frequent visitors to area short track victory lanes - will join more than 60 other races that will take part in the big event that pays $25,000 to win for 76 laps of high speed action on the one-third-mile, banked clay track.

Billy Pauch Sr. is a last minute addition to the list of entries. The dirt track racing legend is looking for his 700th career win and is a six-time winner of the BPG Racing Freedom 76.

The race will be the final appearance in the announcing booth for long time track announcer Ernie Saxton. After 45 years Saxton, who has announced at more than 150 tracks around the nation, will retire from the regular announcing chores at Grandview. He will continue to handle the PR, marketing and program book publishing for the track.

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A full series of qualifying events, including the Schaffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 (final qualifying event), leads up to the 76-lap finale. In addition there will be the Mertz Flying Dutchman Cash Dash featuring the top performers of the night battling for $1000. New this event will be a tire changing event that will pay $500 to the winner.

An estimated $2000 in lap sponsorship and award perks will be available including the newest award which is a recliner chair for the Hard Luck Award winner courtesy of Brian Shupp and Beltzville Furniture of Lehighton.

Some of the other top names in the sport that have submitted entries include New Yorkers Alan Johnson and Bobby Varin along with Billy Pauch Jr., Sammy Piazza, Ron Roberts, Ryan Watt and David VanHorn all. Among the regulars will be new Grandview modified champion Craig VonDohren, nine feature winner Duane Howard, recent Coalcracker 72 winner Jeff Strunk, Meme DeSantis, Frank Cozze, Tim Buckwalter and Jon Kellner Sr.

A Fan Jam kicks things off at 11 a.m. Saturday and ends at 2:30 p.m. Included will be music by DJ Outlaw, autograph sessions, race cars on display, a dunk tank and more. Gates for advance ticket holders open at 3 p.m. while ticket windows will be open at 3:30 p.m. The final opportunity to purchase advance tickets will be at the track between 5 and 7 p.m. Friday.

Tech inspection for the race cars will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and starting at 10 a.m. on race day. All race cars must be signed in by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Adult tickets are priced at $30, youngsters 6 through 12 are $10 and children under 6 are admitted free. Pit admission is $45 and no NASCAR license is required. Camping is permitted on the grounds (no hookups) and parking on the speedway grounds is free. Rain date for the Freedom 76 event is Sept. 21.

The 48 page special edition BPG Racing Freedom 76 program/yearbook will be available for just $6. There will be eight pages of great color photos plus a huge amount of black and white photos.

There are champion stories, recap of the season, final points, recap of all winners since the speedway opener, history of the Freedom 76, a column by Saxton and more. Well known writers such as Brett Deyo and Randy Kane have contributed articles.